Disability housing opened in Ocean Grove

NEW housing accommodation for Ocean Grove residents is now in-use thanks to a collaboration between genU and the Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads.

Officially opened in late August, residents welcomed to the new homes totalling $2.345 million for the first time to receive their house keys.

Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Member for Corangamite, Libby Coker was alongside residents, family, Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads volunteers and genU staff.

“A purpose-built disability home like this empowers its residents to live with independence in their local community, allowing support, tailored according to their needs, to be delivered in their own home,” genU director of residential services Jason Fleming said.

“Residents had provided input during the design phase of the residence, which ha been built to meet Class Three High Physical Support standards.

“With liveability front of mind, the home boasts four separate bedrooms, all with ensuites, common area living areas, kitchen, laundry and storage, with an additional second living area to cater for family visits.”

One of the residents, Andrew Brideson, has lived in Ocean Grove for the past 15 years.

Mr Brideson will now have a larger bedroom, his own ensuite and more privacy due to the building’s design which includes multiple living areas.

He said he liked what he saw when seeing the house for the first time, giving the home a thumbs up and saying it looked “new and nice”.

genU chief executive officer Clare Amies said the organisation was grateful the Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads joined in for support.

“We were delighted when the club joined us in this exciting project.

“They share our passion to build genuinely inclusive communities and help enrich people’s lives.

“People with disability need access to their community and the appropriate housing of this design will give residents the confidence, ease and self-respect to feel they do genuinely belong.

“Undertaking this project was worth it just to see the look on the residents’ faces when they walked through their new home for the first time.”

Lions Club of Ocean Grove Barwon Heads president Bob Marmion said the club, was delighted to be involved in the project.

“Our financial contribution to the project would not have been possible without the support of the Corless Family who donated land that we used to build on.

“This in turn allowed the Barwon Grove Foundation, led by Lions Bill Willocks, Howard Deane and John Brady to raise the funds for community housing.

“When we saw the success of genU’s Tara’s Dream project, we decided that genU was the best vehicle to see our plans come to fruition.”